NAIROBI, Sep. 16[HANA]--Kenya will host a three-day workshop from Wednesday to address the role of older persons in the care of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, the organizers announced here Tuesday. The workshop organized by HelpAge International, a global organization working to improve the quality of lives of disadvantaged older people, will draw participants from Southern and Eastern African countries and the United Kingdom.

A statement from the HelpAge International said the workshop will review existing evidence regarding the role of older women and men as carers of orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS, identify existing supportive practices for older caregivers, and map out strategies to translate this into effective support mechanisms for older people and orphans and vulnerable children.

Delegates will comprise representatives of organizations working with older people, orphans and other vulnerable children, AIDS Control Councils, government representatives




and donor agencies. Older people and AIDS orphans will be invited to participate and share experiences, the statement noted.

The workshop comes at a then when the number of AIDS orphans was rising dramatically as the pandemic continues to claim millions of young adults all over Africa. “Most of these children end up under the care of grandparents living under extreme poverty that compromises their ability to provide adequately for them. This burden will increase as the orphans increase. In Uganda for example, 40% of these children are taken care of by older persons, while in Zimbabwe they take care of over 50% of the cases,” the statement stressed.

by Ooko Daniel....